Getting Started

 

The application by default launches with the permutation (01234567, 01234567) as shown in the picture below. In this notation, the first set of numbers is the list of network inputs and the second is the set of outputs to which the inputs are connected.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUTPUT SETTING: The input is hard-coded to (01234567).  You can change the output to any permutation of the numbers (01234567) by entering the new mapping in the OUT: textbox circled in the following picture. 

Once the desired permutation has been entered in the OUT textbox, press the SET button to propagate the switches with the desired permutation. As can be seen, the switches now are set to show the permutation (01234567, 07654321). 

 

 

ITERATION: You can further examine the Benes Network switching process by using the Iteration button, which will allow you to slowly set the central switches.  You must first set the switches to the desired output permutation, before using the Iteration or Looping capability.  Otherwise, the previous set permutation will be displayed.  Let us trace the process of setting the switches using the Iteration algorithm.  

1. Set the switch to the desired permutation:

 2. Select the Iteration Radio Button: as shown below, only the Initial and Final stage switches are set, while both central switches are empty. These are the results of the first iteration of the Looping Algorithm before it recursively sets the inner switches.  

 

3. Click on NEXT Iteration to continue propagation of the desire permutation in the inner switches.  As can be seen, only a partial part of the upper inner switches has been set after one iteration. These are the outer switches of the upper 4 x 4 inner subnetwork.   Can you guess what will be the final result for the remaining upper switches?  Are they set to Straight or Exchange? 

4. Click Next Iteration button again to show the settings for the upper most central switch. So, if you guessed for this switch to be Straight, you were right!!

5. Click Next Iteration button again to continue the process.

6. Click Next Iteration button again, now we can see the lower central switch being visited:

7. Click Next Iteration button again:

8. Click Next Iteration button again, which finalizes the propagation of the central switch, showing the final settings for the Benes Network switches.